Thoughts on a...

4t7

4t7

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1997 Ford Escort wagon? Has like 200,000 miles on it and a messed up strut that owner says just makes the wheel squeal but it still drives fine...

Is this a reliable vehicle? Common probs? Are parts cheap?

Guy wants to trade this car AND $2k for my 1995 chevy conversion van (which I'm currently trying to sell). Or just buy it outright for around $2600-2700.

Rip off? Sweet deal? Thoughts?

[emoji41]
 
Rip off. Struts are such a huge pain in the ass, and what starts off as just a strut quickly turns into like 30 other things, at least in my experience. There is a reason he is willing to give you 2k in addition to the vehicle, because the vehicle is shit.
 
Yeah F That Dude. Dont do it!!! Yours is worth a shitload of $$: his is pupu in a can.

Price costs for typical components such as alternators, tune-up kits; starters; etc etc and you shall see.

Youre probably thinkin to save money on gas, n'est pas?
 
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Sip said:
Rip off. Struts are such a huge pain in the ass, and what starts off as just a strut quickly turns into like 30 other things, at least in my experience. There is a reason he is willing to give you 2k in addition to the vehicle, because the vehicle is shit.
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Well he actually doesn't know if it is the strut for sure. Says he hit a really bad pothole and now it has the squeaking sound from the wheel...idfk.
 
voodoochile76 said:
Yeah F That Dude. Dont do it!!! Yours is worth a shitload of $$: his is pupu in a can.

Price costs for typical components such as alternators, tune-up kits; starters; etc etc and you shall see.

Youre probably thinkin to save money on gas, n'est pas?
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How much do you figure mine is worth? I'm asking $3k for it (it needs brake work, just new lines I think). And yeah, the mpg is pretty attractive as well as $2k.

Only reason I'm considering it is 'cause I can't afford to fix my vans brakes (fuck being poor and unemployed, lol), it's terrible on gas, and if I trade it I'll have a running, high mpg car, and $2k...
 
Check yours in a Kelly Blue Book. I'd guesstimate yours at around $10k-$15k.
www.autozone.com for brake components....or worst case scenario go to junkyard and pull components there. But only in a worst case scenario.

If you really need that $2k, at least ask the dude if you can take the escort to a mech to get an inspection. I dont trust Escorts.
 
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voodoochile76 said:
Check yours in a Kelly Blue Book. I'd guesstimate yours at around $10k-$15k.
www.autozone.com for brake components....or worst case scenario go to junkyard and pull components there. But only in a worst case scenario.

If you really need that $2k, at least ask the dude if you can take the escort to a mech to get an inspection. I dont trust Escorts.
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Holy Shit, I wish it were worth $10k. It's a 20 year old van so I don't think it's worth that much. But yeah, I would go to a junkyard if I could afford it, but there's not one close where I live anyway. I really just want to sell the thing though, 15 mpg isn't really cutting it for me.
 
Good luck Brother. Okay yeah take the $$ and the Escort but for Heavens sake 1st thing take that rattletrap pos to a mech and get a 120 point insp. and AAA. Then at least you'll know what is gettin ready to fall off.
 
voodoochile76 said:
Good luck Brother. Okay yeah take the $$ and the Escort but for Heavens sake 1st thing take that rattletrap pos to a mech and get a 120 point insp. and AAA. Then at least you'll know what is gettin ready to fall off.
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Thanks [emoji28] idk if I'll actually accept the trade, nothing is set in stone yet. Might just keep my van and see if something better comes along.
 
I say go for it. If she runs good and dosent burn oil. If it is the mazda 4 banger some of those had you will get another 100k atleast out of it. Parts are dirt cheap. Struts and tierods are pretty easy on those if you have ever done one before. I'd take it. I've had 3 high milage escorts that died well after the 400000 mile mark. Little buggers are good well designed cars.
 
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Yeah Look at a Kelly Blue Book in an autoparts store then you'll know what to charge peepz.
 
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JimH1991 said:
I say go for it. If she runs good and dosent burn oil. If it is the mazda 4 banger some of those had you will get another 100k atleast out of it. Parts are dirt cheap. Struts and tierods are pretty easy on those if you have ever done one before. I'd take it. I've had 3 high milage escorts that died well after the 400000 mile mark. Little buggers are good well designed cars.
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Guy says it was a well maintained vehichle and runs good, but it squeaks after hitting a bad pothole. I've never done struts or tierods before but I might be able to manage it. Are those gonna be expwnsive parts? And damnnn, 400,000 miles is alot [emoji15]
 
Jim91 has more experience with Escorts it seems. But you can google components and price them that way. Lotz of junkyards are online nowadays. :)
 
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You betcher bunz they will. :) And the best part about yards is you can wheedle em down.
 
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Do not buy used struts. Live with the squeak until you can aford to do both the front struts, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, and maybe tie rods.
 
JimH1991 said:
Do not buy used struts. Live with the squeak until you can aford to do both the front struts, wheel bearings, tie rod ends, and maybe tie rods.
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You said you've had 3 escorts....so how much do you figure I would I be lookin at to replace the struts, tierods, and bearings?
 
I can rebuild the whole front end on one of those in about 4 hours. It will probably take you a whole weekend and an investment into some tools and jackstands.
 
Probably a couple hundred bucks if you do all the work. Cheap as hell for all the parts you get for that. Most vehicles would cost you more just for the struts.
 
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